Attorneys for Justin Baldoni recently contested Ryan Reynolds’ plea to be excluded from their massive $400 million legal battle.
Documents filed in court on Tuesday, which were accessed by People, reveal that Baldoni’s legal team has argued against allowing Reynolds’ withdrawal from the case. They claim that Reynolds played a more significant role than just being “a supportive spouse,” as he described. They allege in the documents that there are sufficient details within the complaint to implicate Reynolds both directly and as an accomplice.
A representative for Reynolds countered on April 3, stating that those on Baldoni’s side are beginning to acknowledge the apparent flaws in their own legal arguments. They are accused of making a defamation claim without specifying who was defamed, the exact statements made, or the concrete damages incurred. The representative highlighted a stark contrast between Baldoni, who purportedly acts as though he listens to women, and Reynolds, who genuinely supports his wife in her challenges against those who have harassed and retaliated against her.
The spokesperson also indicated that based on the legal standards in various regions, this lawsuit is not only baseless but could also lead to Ryan Reynolds recovering costs and legal fees incurred because of this groundless litigation.
This legal contention follows an earlier move by Reynolds’ legal representatives to have the lawsuit dismissed. They argued that Baldoni’s complaint depends on a private accusation by Reynolds calling Baldoni a “predator”—a statement that does not amount to defamation if Reynolds truly believed it to be true. They assert that the complaint itself implies that Reynolds sincerely holds this belief.
The central issue arose when Blake Lively, at 37, accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director, the 41-year-old Baldoni, of sexual harassment at work and of subsequently orchestrating a retaliation campaign against her. Baldoni refuted these allegations and filed a counterclaim for defamation and extortion.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, previously described Reynolds as a pivotal figure with significant involvement in the alleged defamation campaign against Justin and the Wayfarer team from the outset.
According to Deadline, Baldoni’s legal team alleges that Reynolds and Lively manipulated Lively’s baseless claims to force the Wayfarer Parties into relinquishing control and power that they were not entitled to. They argue that the couple deliberately magnified harmless interactions to fabricate a narrative of sexual harassment by Lively, using this as a tool to intimidate the Wayfarer Parties and gain undue advantage.
In their rebuttal to the motion to dismiss, Baldoni’s lawyers referenced a joke made by Reynolds at a press conference in July 2024 where he said, “I’ve realized that I’m too big to fail at this point, so I just crush my enemies and drink their blood,” aiming to illustrate their argument about his attitude. Lively has also sought to have Baldoni’s “vengeful and rambling” lawsuit dismissed, which Baldoni’s representatives have called “abhorrent.” The dispute, which has garnered significant attention in the entertainment industry, is set for trial in March 2026.
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